Please share this newsletter with your new members! We will not have their emails in our files until membership forms are processed by OEA. We don't want anyone to miss the benefits provided by your district association. We hope to see you at our Fall Roundtable! | |
A Message from President Juliann
Welcome Back! While I could go for a few more weeks of summer to relax and recharge, I am itching to get back to my routines that school brings and to see my students and colleagues. I hope you had a wonderful summer full of memories with families and friends, peaceful times at home, good fun and are ready to tackle the year ahead! May it be a wonderful year for you!
I would like to welcome new members to ECOEA. As you joined your local, you also became part of ECOEA (East Central Ohio Education Association), OEA (Ohio Education Association) and NEA (National Education Association). ECOEA is one of ten districts in the state and has almost 8,000 members from 63 locals in Carroll, Columbiana, Holmes, Stark, Tuscarawas, and Wayne counties.
Fall is a busy time especially in the world of union work. From new member drives in which ONE member ambassadors can help, to our Fall Legal Update at Hartville Kitchen, to electing delegates for the Fall delegate briefing and OEA Fall RA, to collaborating on how to implement new contract language, the work never ends.
Elections matter and my hope is that all locals take the opportunity this fall to elect delegates to the OEA Representative Assembly. These delegates are the voice of your local in the governing work of the Ohio Education Association and are automatic delegates to our ECOEA Delegate Briefing and Spring Representative Assembly. The allotment of delegates is proportional to the number of members in a local; your local president receives this information from OEA. Every local is entitled to at least one delegate, so every local has the opportunity to have representation.
The delegate election must take place by October 10, with results reported to OEA by October 15. Delegates have four commitments. ECOEA will hold a virtual Delegate Briefing on Saturday, November 16, on Zoom to prepare delegates for the OEA one-day Fall Representative Assembly in Columbus on Saturday, December 7. The ECOEA Spring RA will be held in person on Saturday, April 5. The OEA Spring Representative Assembly will be held in Columbus on May 9-10, 2025. ECOEA offers a one-time incentive grant of $250 to locals who have not elected delegates in the past five years. See the information on the ECOEA website for this grant. Be sure that your local is represented. Elections matter!
In the newsletter there are many additional opportunities for you as a member of ECOEA that I hope you take advantage of by attending or participating in. From our Legal Update at Hartville Kitchen in October to various grants and scholarships available to you and your local, there are opportunities to be had by all. Our website, ecoea.ohea.us, is a wonderful resource to find opportunities, register for our events, and apply for scholarships and grants. We look forward to seeing and connecting with you at our ECOEA events throughout the year!
Sincerely,
Juliann Doerschuk
ECOEA President
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All members are welcome to attend our annual Fall Roundtable at the Hartville Kitchen on Monday, October 21, beginning at 5:30 PM. After a traditional turkey dinner and some yummy pie, OEA Attorney Rachel Reight will present a Legal Update, sharing current legislation and court cases that affect you in your job. The event is FREE to all members who will receive a one hour PD certificate for attending. There are door prizes, too!
A $25 deposit is required to hold your reservation. All reservations and deposits must be received in the ECOEA office no later than October 14. Guests and OEA-R retired members pay a $25 fee to attend with OEA-Retired members receiving a $10 refund.
Deposits can be paid to ECOEA by cash or check, or by credit card, and will be returned to members when they attend.
Complete your reservation today at this link:
https://www.jotform.com/form/241963770651159
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David Augusta Unit Scholarships
Each fall, ECOEA awards three scholarships of $500 to members for continuining education. The scholarships are named for long-time public education advocate David Augusta, Louisville EA, and former ECOEA Executive Director, who was instrumental in the implementation of these scholarships.
One scholarship is awarded in each of the three ECOEA voting units by lottery drawing from all applicants. Deadline to apply is November 1, with the winning members being announced at the Fall Delegate Briefing on November 16. Use the link below to apply.
https://form.jotform.com/242288471170154
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ECOEA at the NEA
East Central was well-represented at the NEA Representative Assembly in Philadelphia this July. Thanks to these members for spending their precious summer days to do the work of the association on the national level. Representing ECOEA were:
- Caitlin Driscoll, Alliance EA
- May Alayamini, Canton Professional EA
- Tina Bradley, Canton Professional EA
- Juliann Doerschuk, Canton Professional EA
- MIchelle Martin Jones, Canton Professional EA
- Rita McMillen, Canton Professional EA
- Tamika Moss, Canton Professional EA
- Dr. Geneva Parker, Canton Professional EA
- Ida Gorman, East Canton EA
- Kristine Twigg, Fairless EA
- Angel McCune, Jackson Classified PA
- Heather Zuniga, Malvern EA
- Jen McKelley, North Canton EA
- Julie Nelson, North Canton EA
- Matt Balsinger, Wooster EA
- Karen Linch, Wooster EA
- Kathleen Purdy, OEA-Retired, Plain Local TA
- Valerie Heban, ECOEA Staff
It was a most unusual RA, as the NEA staff had a three-day work stoppage that caused the RA to end early. We were able to continue our work during state caucus meetings in Philadelphia.
Congratulations to Kathleen Purdy for her re-election to the NEA Resolutions Committee where she represents retired members. Congratulations to Michelle Martin Jones for her re-election to NEA Resolutions representing Ohio. The 2025 NEA RA will be held in Portland, Oregon.
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OEA FIRST ANNUAL GOLF OUTING
ECOEA was proud to be a hole sponsor of the OEA first annual golf outing. Golfers and non-golfers gathered at the beautiful Champions Golf Course in Columbus where they enjoyed friendly competition, golf carts, lunch, raffles and a silent auction. We'd love to see more golfers from ECOEA out on the course next year!
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OEA Summer Academy
ECOEA was proud to provide twelve scholarships to members to attend the OEA Summer Academy at the beautiful Downtown Columbus Hilton on June 20-22, 2024. The theme for the conference was Leading and Learning; Leveraging Our Power for Public Education. Our members heard from the keynote speaker, attended sessions, and made valuable connections with others from the district and state. District Leaders Council provided an evening activity with a Poker Run fundraiser for the Ohio Fund. Members were also treated to an after-hours event at the Franklin Park Conservatory with a Summer BBQ. Members left empowered with tools and knowledge to share with their locals.
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ECOEA SUMMER LOCAL LEADERS TRAINING
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ECOEA Summer Local Leaders Training was held at the First Christian Church of Canton on June 25, and featured sessions to prepare your local leaders for their leadership roles. Sessions included Local Treasurers' Workshop, Local Presidents' Training, A Crash Course on Parliamentary Procedure, Yes, And.., Internet Security, along with remarks from the OEA officers. Expert presenters provided engaging activities as well as valuable resources. Attendees were treated to a delicious lunch, door prizes, and give-aways as they spent time in session and working with their local teams. Representatives from ONE hosted a table with OEA and new member recruitment resources. It was a pleasure to host these local leaders.
Locals associations represented by one or more members were:
- Canton Professional EA
- Claymont EA
- Dover EA
- East Holmes TA
- Fairless EA
- Garaway TA
- Jackson Memorial EA
- Jackson Classified PA
- Leetonia EA
- Malvern EA
- Minerva Local EA
- North Canton Classified PA
- North Canton EA
- New Philadelphia EA
- Northwest TA
- Plain Local TA
- Rittman EA
- SCEPTA
- Southern Local TA
- Triway EA
- Tuscarawas Valley TA
- Triway EA
- Wayne County JVS EA
- Wooster EA
Be sure to thank your local leadership for giving up a summer day to travel to Canton for association work! We see you!
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ECOEA SUMMER PD ON ZOOM
ECOEA provided a day of online Summer Professional Development on July 11, where members joined with OEA presenters for timely sessions. Thanks to Ellen Adornetto for her session entitled Regarding Licensure, and Daria DeNoia for her session PBIS; It's Not Just Points and Parties and for the valuable resources. There were some lucky door prize winners and everyone received a PD certificate for their time in session.
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ECOEA Public Relations Grants 2024
Qualifying locals are encouraged to submit an application for a Public Relations Grant of up to $500 for a project to enhance the image of your local as a community partner. To qualify, a local must have elected and sent delegates to the ECOEA Fall Delegate Briefing and/or ECOEA Spring Representative Assembly. Twenty local associations have qualified for 2024-2025 for their participation in governance last year.
To be sure your local is eligible next year, be sure to elect delegates to the OEA Representative Assembly. OEA delegates also serve as ECOEA delegates. Your election must be held by October 10, with results reported to OEA by October 15. 'Tis the season to hold your election!
Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/241974279553166
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ECOEA REP TO OEA-R ADVISORY COUNCIL NEWSBRIEF
Kathleen has an August Newsbrief for our OEA-Retired Members at the button below.
Retired members interested in becoming a delegate representing OEA-Retired should file a Declaration of Candidacy by September 10. We'd love to see more ECOEA retirees participating! You can access the form at this link: https://www.ohea.org/cms/assets/uploads/2024/08/OEA-Retired-DOC-OEA-RA-2024-2025.doc
The OEA-R Fall Conference registration is open! Join OEA-Retired members on September 25, for a day of virtual sessions that Inspire to Retire, with outstanding featured speakers. More information and registration at this link: https://www.ohea.org/oea-retired-fall-conference/
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ECOEA at the OEA Educational Foundation Gala
ECOEA was proud to be a bronze sponsor of the OEA Educational Foundation Gala held at COSI in Columbus on Saturday, July 20. ECOEA members in attendance enjoyed the Titanic exhibit, dinner, dancing, and auction items to benefit the good work of the OEA Foundation. To learn more about the Foundation grant opportunities for members, visit the web page at the OEA website.
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Your ECOEA officers and staff:
President Juliann Doerschuk, Canton Professional EA
Vice President Heather Zuniga, Malvern EA
Recording Secretary Leora Troyer, East Holmes TA
Past President Julie Nelson, North Canton EA
Business Manager Valerie Heban, OEA-Retired, North Canton EA
Website ecoea.ohea.us
ECOEA Office Phone (330) 499-8587
ECOEA Email ecoea@sbcglobal.net
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